I don't know what it is about Emma Lord's books, but I always end up having the BEST time reading them. I love her characters. These are people I want to be friends with. This was the college experience I wish I had. And I am so sad that Pancake It Or Leave It isn't a real place cause I would go every Sunday.

Seb and Sadie's relationship was fun to watch unfold. I was also super attached to all of the side characters that you meet along the way. I want to know how things worked out for Sadie's sisters. I want to read more about Amara and Rowan after college. I want Daisy and Betty's story.

If you're looking for a fun, rivals-to-friends-to-lovers book about finding yourself, then this book is 100% for you.

First I would like to thank Wednesday Books for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What I Loved:
- Zine, the basis of Seb and Sadie's newest competition and gave them both the ability to learn about themselves
- Pancake dates, family tradition they accidently bring to college
- Family friends, I love that the families of Seb and Sadie are best friends
- Friends, Seb and Sadie have a great group of friends in college and I love how they really help the two grow during the story
- Humor/Banter, these two have known each other forever and it just makes the jokes that much more

If you are looking for a sweet 'enemies to lovers' romance based in college with a great group of characters, traditions and an overall great storyline to protect the zine and other non athletic activities then I would absolutely recommend this book!

It was cute, as all of the author’s books are. Some parts felt a little disjointed. I think some of the side characters could have been given more depth which might have helped with the disjointed feeling.

⭐️⭐️ | The Rival by Emma Lord

As someone who has read and enjoyed many titles from NetGalley, I went into The Rival by Emma Lord with high hopes. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me.

The story felt immature in tone, which made it hard to connect with the characters or fully invest in their journey. The pacing also dragged — the book was longer than it needed to be, and I found myself losing interest in several spots due to a lack of momentum and depth.

One particular element that stood out was the inclusion of an LGBTQ+ character. While representation is important, in this case it felt more like a checkbox than a meaningful addition to the story. The character’s identity didn’t influence the plot or their development in any significant way, which made the inclusion feel superficial rather than thoughtful.

Overall, The Rival lacked the substance and engagement I’ve come to expect from Emma Lord’s previous works. While some readers might enjoy the light tone and premise, it ultimately wasn’t for me.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

Characters were real and the drama was silly enough to be fun but serious enough that you feel invested.

This was a classic Emma Lord fun read. The characters were a little immature for college age, but I enjoyed it so much, I didn't really care.

I adore everything Emma Lord writes and this was no different! I loved getting to know Seb and Sadie, their friendship and rivalry was so much fun to read about. There were deep conversations and funny moments. This was a great read!

This is academic rivals to lovers gold! The romcom vibes were everything and the characters were so likeable. It does read more like a YA than NA but I still ate it up! Definitely recommend!

Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press for my ARC!

4/5⭐️

Lifelong academic rivals and college freshmen Sadie and Sebastian Adams take the rivalry to the next level as they compete for spots on their college’s famous Zine in Emma Lord’s The Rival. Sadie thought she’d defeated and escaped Seb by getting into her dream college, taking the only open position. However, Seb shows up on campus unexpectedly after being admitted off the waitlist. Sadie is forced to compete with him for what she’s wanted more than anything forever while struggling with self-doubt, coping with her chaotic but lovable family, and hiding her writing alter ego. Then, she discovers that her feelings for Seb are nowhere near resentment.

Seb and Sadie get back into the groove of competition, discovering their not-so-new, deep, mutual attraction. Joining forces, Sadie and Seb combat the school system’s flaws that are negatively affecting students and student programs, keeping them from achieving their goals/dreams and enjoying their college experiences. As their connection and feelings deepen, Seb and Sadie realize they’ve become more than rivals. They’re academic and romantic matches—soulmates.

Sadie and Seb are relatable, likable, and fallible teens. Reading as Sadie and Seb experience the freedom, excitement, and fun of their first year of college makes me feel nostalgic for my college years. Lord’s lively writing and narrative style, rich with detailed descriptions and world-building, paint vibrant images in your imagination. She uses the characters’ senses to layer her description, world-building, character development, and evolution of the characters and their connections to each other. Her colorful, snarky dialogue and banter are authentic to her characters, themes, and setting. The Rival is funny and multilayered, drew me in from the first scene. Once I started reading, the pages flew by, and, before I knew it, the novel was over—all too soon.

Sadie is thrilled to be at her dream school, hoping to land a spot on the Zine she’s read and idolized for years. She wants to work in comedy and make people laugh. Funny, driven, smart, and stubborn, Sadie makes herself quiet and contained to keep from being troublesome or causing her parents problems. She’s learned to be the opposite of her siblings and family to balance them out. During her time at college and spending time with Seb, however, Sadie is discovering who she really is—loud, chaotic—and becoming comfortable being that person. She also realizes and acknowledges her attraction to Seb, despite proclaiming she’s immune because he’s her nemesis.

Outgoing, bi, and cocky, Seb is Sadie’s arch nemesis and rival. Their families have been next-door neighbors throughout their lives. Sadie and Seb actually started out as friends. There may be some unresolved issues between them shaping their differing views of where their friendship stands. Unlike Sadie, Seb is excited to be back at school with Sadie again. He doesn’t hesitate to show it. It helps that Seb has a better sense of who he is and who she is. He knows her and sees her in ways no one else does—he knows about her writer alter ego.

I love how Lord takes her time revealing the pieces of Sadie and Seb’s story a bit at a time, their emotional connection, hopes, and dreams for themselves and each other, burgeoning attraction, and how the closeness of their families ties them together. Their chemistry is strong, attraction flaring up with their snarky banter, challenging and making each other better.

Written in Sadie’s first-person POV, the Rival is a sweet, hilarious, emotional, and fast-paced romance perfect for fans of rivals-to-lovers, first love, crush/secret feelings, pining, family-centered romance, and YA/teen romance in a college setting.

Wednesday Books provided an advanced review copy via Netgalley for review.

Two kids that have been friends forever are in the same college. Their parents are friends and they are frenemies. But is there more to it then just competition that’s brewing below the surface?

This was such a sweet, adorable YA rom com filled with fun tropes. The characters were really likable and their relationship was definitely cute. I felt like there could've been a bit more with the families to show the backstory, but I guess that wasn't absolutely necessary. I think my biggest takeaway from this book is that now I'm seriously craving pancakes.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

This sweet rivals-to-lovers romance follows Sadie and Seb, two overachievers battling for a coveted spot on their college’s comedy magazine—until love gets in the way.

Bridging YA and NA, the story has great banter, lovable side characters, and zero spice (just kisses), making it perfect for both teen and clean romance readers. Though a few plot points stretched believability, it was still a fun, charming read with great chemistry.

Cute! I wanted something a little more mature with the new adult age of the leads, and the characters felt emotionally pretty young, but it was still a sweet book.

I’ve always been a fan of the enemies to lovers trope, and this one bumps it up a notch since it’s more of a frenemies to lovers situation.

Everything is told from Sadie’s POV (first person), so we get a lot more insight into her character than anyone else’s. Her insecurities have not only colored her interactions with Seb, but also with her own family. And her laser focus on her goals creates conflict with her best friend. But she has a good heart and really wants the best for everyone, even Seb.

Seb, on the other hand, hides behind his charisma and friendliness. He loves Sadie’s family as his own, and has always seen his rivalry with Sadie as something that has fueled them both to be their best. He has a strong sense of fairness and responsibility.

The side characters all fuel this story. Sadie’s exuberant family, the quirky News Bag members, Joey & Christina, and Betty & Daisy. Even the Dean is quirky in his own obnoxious way.

I loved the way that the student organizations and student athletes all worked together to fight for changes that would benefit all of the students. And I have never craved pancakes more!

I feel like the ending was perfect, with the right person winning the competition and the other person exploring a new direction that was a great fit for them.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for review consideration though NetGalley, on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm an Emma Lord fan and this one did not disappoint. It's a sweet rivals romance, that at its heart is really about finding yourself. Enjoyable, if at times a biiiit much. But really, I had a good time with this and that's what counts.

I love every book by Emma Lord. She is so good at writing stories set in early college. The love interest is so dreamy but also so obviously meant for the protagonist. Can't wait for the next book.

Thanks, Wednesday, for the ARC!

I love Emma Lord's books, they’re always fun, lighthearted YA romances. After Begin Again, I was so excited for another college romance, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. It was fluffy, cute, and had Saide growing and finding herself, which I loved. I also enjoyed the competition aspect of the story. Sadie and Seb go head-to-head as they both fight for a spot on their college’s famous zine. Plus, there are some shady school secrets that come to light, and Sadie has to decide between her dream zine and doing what’s best for the students. Such a great read!

This was such a great book. I've read this author before and llove her take on YA fiction. I'd definitely recommend this book. I look forward to reading more by this author.

The Rival by Emma Lord

Emma Lord novels should come with a warning label: Will cause undeniable snack/food cravings. If snacks cannot be procured, you will be hangry until procured. Read at your own risk.

For The Rival, I had an insatiable desire for pancakes. This is all thanks to one of the settings of the book, Pancake or Leave It, a charming pancake establishment with a grumpy yet soft chef who whipped up incredible pancake combinations that made me crave every type of griddle cake, flapjack and crepe around. I know this place is fictional, but like all of Emma Lord’s fictional food establishments (I’m looking at you, Bagelopolis), it felt like a home away from home. Lord’s characters feel that way, too–like childhood best friends that you’re finally getting to see blossom and find themselves and each other. Their triumphs feel real and hardwon, and every small fictional victory felt like I was cheering them on from the sidelines.
What is this pancake novel about?

But I’m getting ahead of myself. If you’re reading this review, you need to know what it’s about besides pancakes.

The Rival, like Emma’s previous book, is an upper YA novel, set at Maple Ride, a liberal arts college with a penchant for a shady school administration and zero work life balance for scholarship athletes. Despite it’s flaws, Maple Ride is Sadie Brighton’s dream school and getting in means a shot at earning a spot at the popular campus zine, Newsbag. This means a chance to step out of the responsible, dependable persona she’s crafted at home to keep her rambunctious loud family at bay. But when her childhood best friend turned rival, Seb, gets off the waitlist and competes for a spot at the zine, her dream of using her writing career to spin a new comedic and spontaneous version of herself gets more complicated.
Emma Lord excels at Rivals to Lovers

Rivals to lovers (especially academic rivals to lovers) is a fun trope because of the stakes. In The Rival, the stakes are as high as possible for teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. For Sadie, a chance at writing for Newsbag means shucking a version of her that hides who she wants to be. At home, she keeps her family at bay by being a peacekeeper, shadowing the witty, competitive girl who started a prank war with her next-door neighbor in elementary school.

At school, she plans good chaos to get the administration’s attention and make lasting changes for the students. She also writes satirical pieces that make the zine editors take notice. Alumni of the zine have gone on to writer’s rooms at comedy TV shows and popular websites—all things that Sadie wants. The only thing standing in her way is Seb, who needs the zine to show his dad that he’s serious about his writing career and his place at Maple Ride.
The best rivalries end with kissing

Sadie and Seb are adorable. Their banter, their past history, and their shared goal make reading their interactions delightful. I loved seeing their rivalry unravel and their friendship and romance blossom. I didn’t want either of them to win a spot in the zine because it meant the other would lose. That, along with their college antics, made me feel like I was going to Alphabet parties with them or pranking Sadie’s sister at her resurrection mystery party.

When they finally share their feelings (because the best rivalries end with kissing) it feels natural. Lord knows how to write romance and she knows how to make us want to see the relationship through, even through the rocky third act breakup. If you love feel-good YA contemporaries or just food related rom-coms, this novel needs to be your next read.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the DRC of The Rival. All opinions in this review are my own.

I usually love Emma Lord but I had such a hard time getting into this one. Although the main characters are supposed to be Freshmen in college, they read so much younger, especially the FMC. Even the side characters seem more like caricatures than actual people. I'm hoping this is just an isolated incident because I usually love her books.